Cyclone Vardah: Chennai struggles amid cash crunch

With power outages and limp servers, card payments have become harder to transact

With internet and phone lines down in the wake of the Cyclone Vardah, cashless transaction have also taken a hit in Chennai.

Most shops including those providing essential goods are unable to accept card payments due to server issues.

Purchasing even essential products has become a challenge for people of a city like Chennai.

While trees and electric poles continue to block the roads it has also cut off electricity supply and phone lines to many localities.

From the city centre to the outskirts, residential localities to industrial outfits are facing blackout and breakdown of communication lines.

"The government had asked us to stock up supplies in anticipation of such damage but essential and perishable goods like milk and vegetables need to be bought on a daily basis. Shops are turning down card payments since gateway is facing network issues. It is definitely a burden. Shortage of supply due to transportation is also a worry," said Anita, a resident of Chennai's K K Nagar.

While demonetisation had created a shortage of liquid cash, Cyclone Vardah only added to woes by cutting off cashless transaction.

Cash dried ATMs are not being replenished since bank officials are unable to reach out to ATMs on roads blocked by debris.

The state government has claimed that civic authorities are working round the clock to clear the debris and uprooted trees and restore power supply.

OneIndia News